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Scott's Reference Library
Luke 4:1 through Luke 4:13 (NIV)
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the
Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate
nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become
bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the
kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority
and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want
to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him
only.’”
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the
temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune
time.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-13
Christ’s being led into the wilderness gave an advantage to the tempter; for
there he was alone, none were with him by whose prayers and advice he might be
helped in the hour of temptation. He who knew his own strength might give Satan
advantage; but we may not, who know our own weakness. Being in all things made
like unto his brethren, Jesus would, like the other children of God, live in
dependence upon the Divine Providence and promise. The word of God is our sword,
and faith in that word is our shield. God has many ways of providing for his
people, and therefore is at all times to be depended upon in the way of duty.
All Satan’s promises are deceitful; and if he is permitted to have any influence
in disposing of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, he uses them as
baits to insnare men to destruction. We should reject at once and with
abhorrence, every opportunity of sinful gain or advancement, as a price offered
for our souls; we should seek riches, honours, and happiness in the worship and
service of God only. Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the
kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains
of the worship of the devil to continue in them. Satan also tempted Jesus to be
his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father’s protection, such as he
had no warrant for. Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our
esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know
it, and seek our defence from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell
richly in us, for it is our life. Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for
himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let
him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to
attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon. And if
we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season
when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to
sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated
in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel,
which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be
the breaking of his own head, Genesis 3:15. Though Satan depart for a season, we
shall never be out of his reach till removed from this present evil world.